SCOOP: The province rejected its own public health agency's advice when it launched its framework for #COVID19 restrictions. A member of the health measures table didn't see the final plan until it was publicly released.

From me & @katecallen https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/11/11/ontario-rejected-its-own-public-health-agencys-advice-when-it-launched-its-colour-coded-plan-for-covid-19-restrictions.html

On Friday, Minister of Health Christine Elliott said the province consulted with 2 expert groups: the modelling consensus table & public health measures table.

The 1st group said it was never consulted. A member of the 2nd said she only saw the final plan when the public did.

In Sept, the MoH asked Public Health Ontario for its advice on indicators for the framework. For the strictest level (now known as "red" or control), PHO recommended a weekly infection rate of 25 per 100,000 & positivity rate of 2.5%.

The province's plan: 100 per 100,000 & 10%

Why does this matter? The higher the threshold, the longer it takes for regions to tip into this category and impose necessary measures. But "It’s actually harder to control a disease when there is much more of a disease around," said Dr. Shelley Deeks with Public Health Ontario.

Dr. Deeks acknowledged that these measures are difficult. But she is "really scared with numbers like this that it will spill again to the elderly and we will see more deaths." She was overcome with emotion towards the end of my interview with her.